The British singer Birdy who is sweeping the world with her new album “Beautiful Lies”, after 2 years is coming to Spain again! The concert will be held in Madrid in Riviera Hall on November 6 and in Barcelona in the Razzmatazzon November 7.

Debut album self-titled “Birdy” brought her huge fame, the second album “Fire Within” has strengthened this international success. It was her first album of predominantly original compositions, as her eponymous debut album consisted largely of covers. “Beautiful Lies”, a third studio album, was released on 25 March 2016 through Atlantic Records.

Birdy was one of the artists who contributed to The Hunger Games film soundtrack with her single “Just a Game”. In June 2012, Birdy contributed the song “Learn Me Right” with Mumford&Sons to the Pixar film Brave for which she received her first Grammy Award nomination. Birdy appears on the 2014 David Guetta album Listen, featured on the song “I’ll Keep Loving You”.

Generally album Beautiful Lies received positive reviews from critics. Music senior editor Neil Z. Yeung commended Birdy’s “evolution from acoustic covers singer to confident and powerful artist“ and stated, that the album “brings a depth that pulls Birdy from Ingrid Michaelson territory and into a scene occupied by Lorde, Florence, and Lana (Del Rey).” He felt that “with more life, richer texture, and an inspiring attitude, Beautiful Lies is Birdy’s declaration that she is more than able to make her mark in the big leagues and join the ranks of the alternative pop pantheon“.

Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly said that “Beautiful Lies places her square in the middle of the indie pop realm […] Her third album is her own testament to talent and her proof that she’s only dipping her toe into the tropes of her genre to spring upward from them and float onto a cloud all her own.”

Don’t wait for buying your ticket and booking a place to stay! Remember that in Barcelona you can enjoy our precious hostels and have a rest after the concert 😉

Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy day: All Saints Day, which is the most important festival of autumn in Spain.

Do you know that Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

In the United States and Canada Halloween is officially celebratedsince 1921. In the 70s and 80s it became known worldwide thanks to several movies. Now many European countries celebrate it as well. In Spain this festival is really popular and eveyrone takes part in it. The word “Hallowe’en” means “hallowed evening” or “holy evening”. Actually Halloween is a night of costumes, fun, fear and time of a good party as well 🙂

Halloween in Spain is a three-day celebration that starts on October 31st with Dia de las Brujas (Day of the Witches), then continues on November 1st with Dia de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) and finish on November 2nd with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

If you are spending Halloween in Barcelona, you should visit the city’s magnificent cemeteries – Montjuic, Poblenou, and Les Corts. There are some special night tours and wonderful classical music concerts. On October 31st in the city’s famous bars and nightclubs, you’ll also have the chance to enjoy the Catalan tradition of La Castanyada. This is a popular All Saints’ Day festival in Catalonia. Full of various events, music concerts, and stalls filled with seasonal delicacies, including castanyes (chestnuts), sweet potatoes, sweet wine and panellets – small Catalan cakes made of marzipan, almonds, and various flavors.

In Northern Spain, due to the Celtic traditions, Halloween is celebrated with more enthusiasm. In Galicia, a region famous for its rich local folklore and ghost legends, the night of 31st of October is known asNoite dos Calacús (Night of the Pumpkins) and is celebrated through a range of common activities such as pumpkin carving, costume parties, bonfires, rituals, and sometimes even trick-or-treating. Otehr special thing is the quemada – a strong alcoholic drink usually made from aguardiente, unground coffee, sugar, and lemon rind or orange peels. Traditionally, the quemada is prepared within a pumpkin and consumed after reciting a spell (esconxuro).

Trick or treat: even if you think it is something of American movies, is a custom that has spread in Spain. Especially in residential and housing areas. Parents and children visit neighbours and ask for sweets.Costumes: choose a costume which produce fear. Now it’s time to be a mummy, a vampire or a with.

Have you heard about Spartan Race? Is a World’s Best Obstacle Race, a real adventure for everyone. Has 3 routes with a lengtht of 5 km (SPRINT), 13 km (SUPER) and 20 km (BEAST). Each track is filled with a mud, water, and obstacles designed to help you discover your inner Spartan. 😉 Athletes of all fitness levels will enjoy participating in a Spartan Race and the feeling of accomplishment that comes at the finish line.

The idea comes from USA. Spartan Race was created to bring the excitement of obstacle racing to spectators and athletes alike. In 2014 there were organized 130 events in 15 countries and 6 continents. As you see is available for everyone in the world.

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Spartan Race as well has events for kids and youth to involve the whole family in the competition. If you´re not sure ifyou are ready totake part in Spartan Race there are guide workouts of the day, nutrition tips to help you eat better, and free workouts held in cities wherever Spartan Races are organized.

So don´t wait and sign up for the coming event in Barcelona or next one organized in Valencia. Let yourself for an active weekend combined with sightseeingand relax. After race you can rest in our comfortable hostels, book your place here before it’s too late 😉

On the 9th of October every year, the valencian community celebrate the national day of its autonomous region that includes the provinces of Valencia, Castellón and Alicante.This is a historical commemoration of the date 1238, when King James I officially entered the city of Valencia, freeing it from Moorish rule. On Sunday 9thare organized many events like processions, floral offerings, parade of Moors and Christiansthrough the streets of the city, fireworks…

The 9th of October is also the day of St. Dyonisius – the patron of lovers – the equivalent of Valentine’s Day. This day a man gives a woman so called “Mocadorà” which is a bundle of marzipan sweets.

Every year the cakemakers of Valencia produce thousands upon thousands of these little marzipan figures. An interesting fact is that more than 70,000 kilos of marzipan are used to produce some 200,000 “mocadoràs” to be given as gifts to wives, girlfriends and mothers.

Althoughthe 9th of October is the greatest day of all Valencia, the events begin from Saturday October 1, throughout the week. During the night ofOctober 8 there is organized an international festival offireworks thatbrings togetherpyrotechnics from various countries.Do not miss it! 😉

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Events programme:
8 October10:00 València, amb la Senyera. Exhibition of the Real Senyera (the flag of Valencia) in the City Hall’s Crystal Room until 22:00.20:00 Concert by the Valencia Orchestra in the Palau de la Música.20:00 Valencian Festival of Dance, Music and Song in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, followed by Popular Dance0:00 Fireworks Festival in the Turia Gardens

9 October12:00 Civic procession and a flower tribute next to the statue of King James I of Aragon. There will then be a firework display at the end of the civic procession.17:00 The City of Valencia Entrance Parade of the Moors and the Christians.
(Route: Glorieta Paz, Calle San Vicente, Plaza del Ayuntamiento followed by the Avenida del Marqués de Sotelo, which is where it will come to an end.)

From 30 September to 2 October in Valencia will be held the III Certamen Nacional Científico-Técnico de Tunas.

A tuna is a group of students in traditional/old university clothes which is characterized by singing, playing instruments and traveling. Not all members of tuna are profesional musicians, sometimes just a few of them. It is an ancient tradition that emerged in Spain, and spread to various countries in Europe as Portugal or Holland, and in Latin America in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, etc.

Tuna was formed by young people who because of their limited resources need to earn money. Nowadays students are not part of “tuna” for money, but for keeping a tradition alive and to have fun, travel and meet new people from other universities. A member of a tuna calls a “tunante“, but is usually known as a “tuno“.

From its origins to the present day, Tunas have continued the cultivation of popular instruments such as the bandurria, lute, guitar and tambourine.

Interesting fact: up until recently, only male students were admitted to be a part of tunas, but in the last few years new tunas have been formed for female students.

Every year at the end of September in Barcelona takes place the biggest festival in town. There are organized an infinity number of activities like concerts at different points of the city, exhibitions, circus, street theatre, audiovisual shows, fireworks etc. The most traditional side of the festival are castellers (human towers), diables (devils), falconers (man with falcon), tabalers (drummers) which all together enliven the streets of the Barri Gòtic accompanied with festival beasts, dwarfs and giants.

La Mercè lasts four days from 22 to 25 September and is held in honor of the Mare de Deu of the Mercè (Mother of God of Mercy), the saint patron of Barcelona.

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The sounds of la Mercè are really diverse, from traditional rhythms and classical music to folk, rock, Catalan cançó and world music hit. The radically modern beats will be played on the BAM festival.

The Mercè Arts de Carrer festival (Mercè Street Art festival) fills the city with dance, circus and street theatre performances. Come and enjoy it at parc de la Ciutadella, Castell de Montjuïc, Parc de la Trinitat, Fabra i Coats Factory and the Palauet Albéniz.

You cannot miss this event! Get to know Valencia by discovering its markets during the night!

Tomorrow on 17 September you can experience a tour of the 14 municipal markets in Valencia, that are part of Bonic/a Fest (Castilla – Avda Cid, Jesus-Patraix, Jerusalem, Ruzafa, Central, Rojas Clemente, Mossén Sorell, Torrefiel, Algirós, Cabañal, Grao, Benicalap, Benimàmet and Nazareth). It is an initiative that aims to bring together citizens and visitors to the culture market. There will be offered a lot of gastronomic activities that brings you closer to the valencian cuisine. In addition, the evening will be accompanied with live music, giant paellas, fashion and dance shows. The market entry is free but each stand reserves the right to set its own price of products and services.

If you choose the Central Market to enjoy the Bonica Fest, you can try many of exquisite dishes! We recommend you to create your own route and take advantage of this gastronomic event by trying varieties of tapas, wine, beer and enjoying concerts.

This Sunday – 18 of September in Valencia will be organized XX Día de la Bicicleta. This event is dedicated to all lovers of this transport so that they can meet and enjoy a splendid morning together. It starts in Paseo de la Alameda.

The bike has become one of the best and most common sports to practice in Valencia thanks to place like Turia Park, many cycle paths around the city and Valenbisi – bicycle sharing system. We encourage you to use this easy and healthy mode of transport to explore Valencia and visit for example nearby precious beach el Saler.

The XX Bicycle Day includes the route of about 7,5 km through the city center, major roads and the historical district (via the Plaza de Zaragoza, Aragón Bridge, the Gran Vía Marqués del Turia, Ruzafa and the streets of La Paz, San Vicente, Xàtiva and Guillem de Castro). It is a great opportunity to sightsee our precious city in a fun atmosphere and spend an active Sunday morning.

The 10th and 11th of September 2016 will be held the Valencia Triathlon in the Royal Navy of Valencia. This competition consists of three parts: swimming, cycling and running. Over 3000 participants will take part in this year edition. Organizers promises much excitement and quality organization.

Thousands of athletes will compete for a good aim. They want to collect funds for TetraSport Association which is dedicated to the analysis&research market and to adapted physical activity. In addition, during the registration process you can directly donate 1 € to the association. The collected amount will be used for the opening of a new training center in Valencia to carry out activities aimed at adapting the exercise to the specific needs of each person, as well those with disabilities or chronic injuries.

Saturday is a day of women’s triathlon, supersprint and sprint. Sunday will consist of Olimpic part. Apart fromcompetitions there will be held award ceremonies,technical brief meetings and tests in Zona Expo.

The World’s Biggest Tomato Fight At Tomatina Festival…BUNOL, SPAIN – AUGUST 26: Revellers enjoy the atmosphere in tomato pulp while participating the annual Tomatina festival on August 26, 2015 in Bunol, Spain. An estimated 22,000 people threw 150 tons of ripe tomatoes in the world’s biggest tomato fight held annually in this Spanish Mediterranean town. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

7 TIPS YOU MUST KNOW!

Wear old clothes – which you are ready to throw away.

Wear shoes with a decent grip – avoid using flip-flops – you can lose them in the tomato fight.

Use the goggles – your eyes can be sore because of the tomato acid.

Use waterproof cameras– in case u want to take pictures or just use a protective case.

Follow the security directions and keep a safe distance of the lorries.

Take part in the palo-jabón – a soap-covered pole with a Spanish prosciutto (jamón) on the top; the person who climbs to the top and get the jamón, win it!

Enjoy as much as u can 😉

While visiting Buñol a cute town surrounded by mountains, take a walk through the streets which combine history and modernity. You can relax in urban parks next to the various fountains.